Film developing reel



May 6, 1952 F. M. SIEDENBURG 2,595,898 v FILM DEVELOPING REEL Filed Feb.'1, 194s ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILMDEVELOPING REEL Frederick M. Siedenburg, Richmond Hill, `N. Y., assignorto General Aniline & Film Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application February 7, 11948, Serial No..6,938

7 Claims. 1k

This invention relates to film retainingdevices for lm developmentspools whereby a photographic lm may be threaded or wound into the spoolbetween two end disks, but which will preventl outward passage of thenlm from the spool.

An object of this invention isr to provide automatically actuatingengaging means forming an integral element of the spool whereby when theWound lm and spool are placed in a developing solution in a tank, theiilm will be retained in spaced apart coiled relation to insure freeaccess of the developer to all portions of the sensitive surface tosecure uniformly developed negatives.

Another object of this invention is to provide a frictional lilm edgeengaging mechanism which also permits normal expansion and contractionof the film during the developing and drying processes without placingany undue strain upon the film.

Another object of this invention is to provide ina film developmentIspool, a one-way tension means coacting with one or both side edgeportions of a photographic lm which will permit motion of the iilm intothe spool in only one direction, but which will grip and lock the hlmagainst outward motion from the spool.

Another object of this invention is to make the two end disks of a lmdeveloping spool relatively rotatable, forwards and backwards, through asmall arc, whereby the film is fed step-by-step into the spool with eachrotation until the .entire lm is wound up in the spool.

With the above and other objects in view, the inventionwill behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims which form part of this specication.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an assembled iilm development spool embodyingthe invention..

Figure 2 is aplan view of one of the end disk membersshowing a spiralguide and a ball detent which permits inward movement of a but preventsoutward movement thereof.

Figure 3'l is a View oa fragmentary portion of 'a modified end diskmember and a modied detent of cam formation.

Figure fl is a view of a fragmentary portion of'a modied end disk memberand showing a modified detent ci leaf Spring form.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on the f line 5-5 in Figure l.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral Ii]indicates a iilm development spool to which this invention is applied.

The spool I0 comprises two relatively slidable ilanges or disk membersII, I I. The inner face of the disk member I I has a spiral grooveforming a guide I2 positioned at right angles to the disk member forinserting and guiding a film I3 through a t'angentially directed inletopening I4 in the outer portion of the disk member and between the wallsI5 of thev spiral guide I2.

The disk member II has a central tubular eX- tension or sleeve I6 havinga longitudinal guide groove i?. The tubular extension I6 has a pluralityof circular grooves i8 spaced apart from each other.

The disk member EI is concentric with the tubular extension I6 and has aperipheral portion wider than defined by the walls of guide I2.

The upper disk member II has a groove similar to the disk member H,forming a spiral guide I2 positioned at right angles to the disk member.The spiral guide I2 coacts' with the spiral guide I2 for guiding theinserted iilm` I3 through the inlet opening I' in the outer portion ofthe disk member and between the walls of the spiral guide I2.

It is to be noted that the spiral guides I2, I2' are similar andpositioned to run in the same direction starting at the openings I4, I4in alignment in order to allow both side edges of the iilm to enter thespace between disk members II, Ii simultaneously.

The disk member II has a central tubular extension or sleeve 20 havingan inner diameter adapted to iit snugly over the tubular extension i6 ofthe disk member II.

The sleeve 23 has a plurality of longitudinal through slots 2I to securea certain degree of resiliency in the sleeve and ensure frictionalengagement with the tubular extension I6.

To secure the proper alignment of the spiral guides I2, I 2 of the diskmembers II, II' and permit relative rotation of these members, the innersurface of the sleeve 20 is provided with a radial projection`22 adaptedto enter into engagement with the guide groove I 'I of the tubularextension I6 ofthe vdisk'member II.

In order'to lock'the disk member I I in the dfferent positionscorresponding to the particular widths of lm to be accommodated, theinner surface of the sleeve 20 is formed with a circular projectionor'collar 23 adapted to snap successively into and out of the circulargrooves I8 of the tubular extension I6 when the disk member I I is movedalong the tubular extension I6, as shown in Figure 1.

This invention is particularly directed to a frictional film edgeengaging mechanism which will permit winding the lm into the spool whenthe disk members I I, I I are in properly spaced-apart relation for theparticular Width of the film.

For this purpose, the disk members I I, I I are formed with widerperipheral portions 25, 25 which are also of considerably greaterthickness in comparison with the thickness of the rest of the disk bodyon which the spiral guides I2, I2' are located. The peripheral portions25, 25 re spectively, have the inlets I4, III therethrough.

A channel 26 is formed in the peripheral porn tion 25 which is open tothe interior of the spool. The lower part of the channel 26 is angularlydirected to cause a ball detent 21 mounted in the channel to move towardthe outer surface of the outermost wall I of the spiral guide I2.

As shown in Figure 2, it Will be seen that a film I3 inserted into thespool I0 will pass therein between the ball detent 2'I and the outerWall I5 and that the ball will exert a light pressure against thelongitudinal edge of the film and force the film into frictionalengagement with the outer surface of the outer wall I5 of the spiralguide I2.

Due to the angle of the cavity 25 with respect to the radius of the diskmember a tapered recess is formed with the outer Wall I5 of the spiralguide I2 wherein the ball 2 'I will be clamped with increasing force inone direction of rotary movement of the disk. The film I3 is therebyheld fast against the Wall I5 while the companion disk moving in theopposite direction travels freely over the film edge since the balltherein is moved toward the Wider portion of the cavity 25.

The clamping action of 'the ball detent 2l is automatic in that themotion of the detent in any direction is self-actuated depending solelyon the direction of rotation of the particular disk member of which thedetent is a part. This holds true also for the modication-of detentmechanisms hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 3 is a View of a fragmentary portion of a modified. disk memberIla having a modified cavity 26a of substantially semi-elliptical formin the peripheral portion 25a. substantially elliptical form ispivotally mounted at its lower end in the cavity 25a on a pin 22. Thiseccentric mounting of the cam detent 23 causes the cam to come intocontact with the outer surface of the outermost wall I5a.

'Ihe pivoted cam detent 28 functions similarly to the ball detent 21 andcauses the film I3 to be wound up Within the spiral passageway betweenthe disk members of the spool. The film I3 is held by the eccentric cam28 against the outer Wall of the guide in one direction of rotarymovement of the disk. In the other direction of motion the cam 28 canpivot freely and will not clamp the film.

Figure 4 is a View of a fragmentary portion of a modied disk member IIbhaving a modied cavity 2Gb in the periphery portion 25D. A slotted pin30 is suitably secured in the cavity 2Gb. A leaf spring 3'I has one endsecured in the pin 30 and with its free end slightly curled and inpressie contact with the outer surface of the wall I The spring 3lfunctions similarly to the cam 28 or to the ball detent 21 to permit thefilm I3 A cam detent 28 of i to be wound lup within the spiralpassageway between the disk members of the spool.

Referring to Fig. 5, it is to be noted that the groove I1 isconsiderably wider than the projection 22 and this permits the diskmember II' to partially rotate over the tubular extension I6 in relationto the disk member II through a small arc.

In operation, when an end portion of a film I3 is inserted into thespool I0 through the inlets III, I 4 the operator holds the disk II inone hand, and by imparting forward and rearward rotary motions to thedisk II', the film is fed into the spool, step-by-step, until the entirefilm is automatically Wound up in the spool.

I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of myinvention, but it will be understood that various changes andmodications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A spool for developing tanks accommodating a length of filmcomprising a pair of disk members adjustably disposed on a common axis,at selected distances from each other, at least one of said disks beingrotatable relative to the other, for a predetermined angulardisplacement. a continuous groove forming a spiral guide having Wallsextending parallel said axis on the inner face of each of said disks forguiding the edges of the film inserted therein, said groove terminatingnear the center of each disk and starting at the outer peripherythereof, self -actuating detent means in each one of said disks forpressing the edge of the film inserted in said groove against said wallupon rotation of said disk in one direction and releasing the lm uponrotation in the other direction whereby the hlm inserted in the groovesbetween said disks is forced into said spiral guide upon successiverelative rotary displacement of said disks.

2. A spool in accordance with claim l wherein said detent meanscomprises a pivotally supported cam extending into said guides andengaging said walls.

3. A spool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detent meanscomprises a spring member extending into said guides having one endsecured to said disk and having the other film engaging end bent backand resting on said Wall.

4. A spool for developing tanks accommodating a length of filmcomprising a pair of disk members, at least one of said disks beingrotat able relative to the other, a continuous groove forming a spiralguide on the inner face of each of said disks for guiding the edges ofthe film inserted therein, said groove terminating near the center ofeach disk and starting at the outer periphery thereof, self-actuatingdetent means in each one of said disks for engaging the longitudinaledge of the lm inserted in said groove upon rotation of said disk in onedirection and releasing said engagement upon rotation in the otherdirection whereby the film inserted in the grooves between said disks isforced into said spiral guide upon successive relative rotarydisplacements of said disks.

5. A spool for developingtanks accommodating a length of film comprisinga pair of disk members, at least one of said disks being rotatablerelative to the other, a continuous groove forming a spiral guide on theinner face of each of said disks for guiding the edges of the nlminserted therein, said groove terminating near the center of each diskand starting at the outer periphery thereof, self-actuating detent meansin each one of said disks for engaging the longitudinal edge of the lminserted in said groove upon rotation of said disk in one direction andalternately releasing said engagement upon rotation in the otherdirection whereby the film inserted in the grooves between said disks isforced into said spiral guide upon successive relative rotarydisplacements of said disks.

6. A film spool for developing tanks accommodating a length of lmcomprising, a pair of disks members disposed on a common axis at adistance from each other determined by the width of the film to bedeveloped, said disks being rotatable relative to each other, each ofsaid disks having on the inner face thereof a laterally extending walldeiining a continuous spiral guide groove for the longitudinal edges ofthe film inserted therein, said groove terminating near the center ofeach disk and starting at the outer periphery thereof; the peripheralportion of each of said disks having walls defining a channel in thedirection inwardly terminating at the Wall of said groove, said channelbeing narrower at the terminal end and wider near the outer periphery ofsaid disks, a. ball in each of said channels freely movable in the widerportion but r-etained at the terminal end, whereby said ball riding overthe nlm inserted in said groove upon rotation of said disks in onedirection is forced toward the Wider portion exerting no pressure on thelongitudinal edge of said film, whereas in the other direction ofrotation said ball is caused to clamp said film edge against the lateralWall of said groove.

7. A film spool for developing tanks accommodating a length of filmcomprising, a pair of disk members disposed on a common axis at adistance from each other determined by the width of the lm to bedeveloped, said disks being rotatable relative to each other for apredetermined angular displacement, each of said disks having on theinner face thereof a laterally extending wall defining a, continuousspiral guide groove for the longitudinal edges of the film insertedtherein, said groove terminating near the center of each disk andstarting at the outer periphery thereof, the peripheral portion of eachof said disks having walls defining a channel in the direction inwardlyterminating at the wall of said groove, said channel being narrower atthe terminal end and wider near the outer periphery of said disks, aball in each of said channels freely movable in the wider portion butretained at the terminal end, whereby said ball riding over the lminserted in said groove upon rotation of said disk in one direction isforced toward the wider portion exerting no pressure on the longitudinaledge of said lm, whereas in the other direction of rotation said ball iscaused to clamp said lm edge against the lateral wall of said groove.

FREDERICK M. SIEDENBURG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number` Name Date 2,112,606 Pless Mar. 29, 19382,484,341 Grover, Jr. Oct. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date657,012 Germany Feb. 3, 1938 680,782 Germany Sept. 7, 1939

